Open Letter to Mr. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General

His excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General,

Despite the fact that the whole world is now aware of the saga of the Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji and his hunger strike in Irans Evin prison, and although all of the institutions under your auspice have protested against the unjust treatment of this courageous writer, and against a background of strong protests of the major European and American members of your Security Council, and although his lawyer, Ms. Shirin Ebaadi, the Noble Prize Laureate has begged for the cooperation of the worlds human right organizations, your response to reporters who yesterday asked for your comments in this regard was that: I have not enough information on this case and, thus, cannot comment on it.

Dear Sir! As citizens of the planet earth who believe in the Declaration of Human Rights, we have a few questions for you:"How much information on a case is considered to be enough for you? Once this threshold is reached, what would you comment on such a case? And, as the head of a world organization that is created to expand peace and human rights all over the word, what will your action be beafter uttering that comment?

Dear Mr. Anaan! United Nation Organization was not created to ignore the atrocities of its member governments. Such connivance actually defies the purpose of the UN mission. And you are not selected to head such a large and expensive organization only to act as a diplomat who uses an ambiguous language not to talk about the misconducts of a member of his organization.

Dear Mr. Anaan! We think that, according to the mission statement of the UN and the responsibilities bestowed on you, it is now the time for you to get enough information about the case of this freedom-loving citizen of our planet through your numerous sources (or just by calling Ms. Ebaadi and talking with her for a few minutes). And once this information seems enough to you, you are expected not only to comment on this case but to act vigorously and effectively.

Dear Mr. Anaan! If you continue to keep yourself unaware of this vital case, you will soon find that the blood of a courageous journalist who has died in a corner of a political prison has tainted your hands too.

With heartily regards for an organization that is set up to protect the nations and not the government,

Shokooh Mirzadegi (Iranian writer)
Dr. Esmail Nooriala (Iranian writer)
July 14, 2005-07-14

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